MLB 2020 Draft Breakdown: Top 10 Overall Drafts pt. 3
So far out list includes:
10. Padres 9. Nationals 8. Rockies 7. Reds
Today we break down #6 and #5 on our list of best overall drafts starting with #6…
6. Arizona Diamondbacks – 5 draft picks
We are very envious of the Diamondbacks depth in their farm system and think they got great value with their picks in 2020. They have done a great job adding players through all avenues. They added three Top 15 prospects in the Astros trade for Greinke. They also added a good mix of HS/Collegiate talent in the 2019 draft.
Bryce Jarvis is a great value in the 1st round and a player that is still developing. He has also bought in on his development and has gotten the most out of his talent. He has also produced a great 2020 season before it was cut short. Jarvis has a FF with good rise and sits 93. He has a sweepy SL that performs to both RHH and LHH. He also has a CH with a lot of horizontal break that gets swing and misses from a LHH. Jarvis has all the tools to be an anchor of a staff. His only issue is being around the zone too much.
Slade Cecconi was the CBA pick and offers a 6-4 frame. Cecconi is young and has time to develop still with his pitch arsenal. He can control the zone. He creates good spin with his SL just needs to throw it harder. He has a low spin CH that can play to a RHH or LHH. His FF looks to have a good amount of life, but a inconsistent shape. He needs to get more swing and misses with the pitch. Cecconi offers great depth to their system and another great development story.
One of my favorite picks of the draft is Liam Norris in the 3rd. We are so high on Norris that we mocked him to the Diamondbacks in the 1st for our all pitcher mock draft. Norris has the chance to have a 60 grade FF/CB/SL. He also offers a 6-4 frame and a chance to add more velocity with his FF. His FF already has great rise and has topped at 95. His CB is his best pitch and can play to a LHH and RHH. He needs to develop his CH but it looks to be an avg pitch. This looks to be one of the steals of the draft when we look back in a few years.
A.J Vukovich is a great value in the 4th and the Diamondbacks have done well pushing their HS picks over the last couple years. His 6-5 frame is projectable and offers a good amount of power. Our only concern is his track record against good pitching. The Diamondbacks are very top heavy with their bats and need to add more depth to the system. I can see him taking a few years to get to affiliated ball.
Brandon Pfaadt offers a good frame at 6-4 and a good FF/CB combo. He has a lot of spin to his FF but needs to develop more rise to get the most out of the pitch. He gets a lot of spin with his CB as well. Pfaadt also showed good success at the Cape Cod League.
The Diamondbacks did a good job adding a couple arms into their Top 15 prospects and another into their Top 30. This will be a great class to develop in a good farm system.
Coming in at #5…
5. Orioles – 6 draft picks
The Orioles did a great job adding four collegiate bats and two high level HS prospects to their farm system. The Orioles have added a lot of talent over the last few years and continue to add depth. They have also done a great job mixing in the HS talent that fit their mold of development.
The Orioles started with Heston Kjersted, which was a shock to a lot of people with Lacy and Martin there for the picking. They fell in love with the power potential and the SEC/Team USA success. We do not agree with the pick, but we do believe in the talent that Kjersted offers. He has premium exit velocity and the potential for 30+ home runs annually. I do like the success of Arkansas hitters over the last few seasons as well.
The Orioles went back to the SEC well with Jordan Westburg in the CBA. Westburg is another player with premium exit velocities, power and major swing decision issues. We are not sold on him sticking at SS with his 6-3 frame, but he will offer enough power to play 3B down the line. Hudson Haskin is another power bat out of Tulane and a good value within the 2020 OF crop. He shows power potential with 10 homer his freshman year. We love the home run potential with the first three picks and value where they were taken.
We do not see great value in Anthony Servideo, but if he is able to hit how he showed in the shortened 2020 season they may have something. Sevideo will be able to stick at SS but we are not confident he will hit enough to make an impact. We also do not like the arms they passed up in the 3rd. Coby Mayo is a risk in the 4th round out of HS, but we like the risk here and the power potential he offers. The 6-5 frame is also tantalizing to envision over the next few years. He has a plus arm and may need to move to given his size.
Carter Baumler is a great value in the 5th and one of our favorite picks of the round. He has great life to his FF and above avg. spin. He offers a great secondary pitch with his CB that is a swing and miss pitch to a LHH. As he develops the Orioles have a real steal and a great piece to develop over their rebuild process.
Kjersted will fit in their Top 5 prospects and Haskin/Westburg should fit nicely in their Top 15. We think Mayo and Baumler will creep into the Top 15 over the next year as a couple bats graduate.